ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - FEMA is reporting a significant drop in the number of firefighters.
The latest report from FEMA shows call volumes to fire departments around the country have tripled in a decade. At the same time, the number of firefighters has steadily declined.
Kevin Schott, who is the vice president of the Illinois Firefighters Association, says there is a firefighter shortage both locally and nationally.
"Call volumes are up, we are responding to more and more technical type responses and our EMS calls are up," said Schott. "But our numbers are down."
Schott says with calls up, it could have a devastating impact on communities.
"It's getting critical to be completely honest, particularly in the smaller communities," said Schott. "Honestly, the public is becoming less safe because of it."
Schott tells 'Total Information A.M.' when he started as a firefighter, he responded to maybe 20 fires a year and that's all they did.
"Now we got hazmat, we got gas leaks," said Schott. "We got anything an individual has a problem with, they expect the fire department to come and resolve."
"We want to be that system to help the community to help them with whatever they have, but it does taxes a lot more than it did 40 years ago."
Schott tells 'Total Information A.M.' because of demand, a career firefighter can make more than six figures with overtime.
Schott says they're trying to lure young recruits with competitive salaries, and hoping the younger firefighters can bring knowledge of A.I. and drones in fighting fires.
"It is a very stressful, taxing, physical job that we need more young people to get involved in," said Schott.